The essential anime games from Namco Bandai preview

This is the first E3 after Namco and Bandai merged into a single entity and their line up was heavy on the anime video game side. If you’ve been following anime in North America chances are there’s a game from Namco Bandai from your favorite series coming in 2006. In this preview we take a look at all of the anime games from to .hack// GU to Zatch Bell Mamodo Battles.

.hack // G.U. (PS2)

In between making all the Naruto games CyberConnect2 has not forgotten about .hack. In //G.U. players re-enter the virtual MMORPG called “The World” again, but the place has changed from Kite’s story. This time a PK (player killer) is killing people in the game and your world is turned upside down after being one of the victims. Besides an all new story and sharper graphics CyberConnect2 tuned up the battle system. You can engage combat by hitting on screen monsters with your motorcycle for some early damage or walk up to them. Once you start combat a field surrounds you trapping your party and the monsters into combat. .hack //G.U. is more action packed than the previous series. You can quickly execute combos or switch weapons on the fly for different attacks. While attack you charge up your beast meter, which can be used to temporarily power up your team. The game comes out this fall and a new anime series is coming over next year.

Eureka Seven Volume 1: The New Wave (PS2)

Instead of following the series, Eureka Seven Vol.1: The New Wave compliments it. The game takes place before the start of the series currently airing on adult swim. Instead of playing as Renton you play as Sumner Sturgeon for the UF LFO force riders. The gameplay in Eureka Seven Volume 1 breaks down into three styles. Of course there is LFO (read: mecha) combat where you can use your customized LFO to shoot from a distance or get close and personal with melee combat. You can also switch into tank mode and dominate the ground. There is also hoverboard racing where you can shred air all the way to the finish line. Players can also do tricks in lift mode sort of like a mid air SSX race. Look for Eureka Seven Volume 1: The New Wave this fall.

IGPX (PS2)

Straight from Cartoon Network’s original series is an IGPX game. Follow team Satomi’s journey to being the top of the 3 versus 3 mecha races on the Immortal Grand Prix. As players you will be able to customize your IG machine with over 100 different parts. Once your mecha racer is completed hit the track and begin let the races begin. Like the show combat is just as important as racing. Force the other team to crash into the wall or coordinate with your team members for a team attack. We will have more on IGPX as we get closer to the scheduled fall release.

Mobile Ops: The One Year War (Xbox 360)

This isn’t exactly an anime game, but Mobile Ops: The One Year War is set in the Gundam universe so we’ll throw it in here. Mobile Ops: The One Year War takes the chaos of robot wars and throws you right on the frontlines. You are a soldier, a regular foot solider with just a gun against huge mobile suits. Or jump into the cockpit of a mobile suit and do some heavy damage. You can “commander” any mobile suit lying around and immediately pilot it. In mobile suit mode you can leap to the sky, attack with a beam saber and take advantage of a rifle with a really good scope. Mobile Ops: The One Year war also has online play via Xbox Live so you can join a robot war with real humans. Even though the demo was unfinished, it was entertaining and we’re betting the game will be better once we play it online.

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja (PS2)

Test your ninja skills in the one on one fighter Naruto: Ultimate Ninja. Pick your favorite ninja and jump into combat by taking on missions given by the Third Hokage or test out story mode where you can play alternate story sequences. The fighting system in Ultimate Ninja is what makes the game shine. It is a 2D fighter with fast replacement jutsu counters, scattered items to collect and stylish signature attacks for each character. Naruto: Ultimate Ninja also includes something special for North American gamers, two new characters. Unfortunately all of our ninja spies could not extract anymore information about the identities of these two characters from Namco Bandai so we’re going to have to wait until June to find out.

One Piece: Grand Adventure (PS2 and Gamecube)

With 24 playable characters your favorite pirate is bound to be in One Piece: Grand Adventure. The game is an arena fighting game that is sort of like two player Powerstone. You can run around a battle stage and pull of signature moves using the accel-heat system. If you’re playing the single adventure mode there’s more than fighting on Luffy’s quest to be the greatest pirate. Players get a chance to play mini games like racing or sports for different styles of gameplay. One Piece: Grand Adventure arrives on North American shores this fall.

Zatch Bell! Mamodo Battles (PS2 and Gamecube)

Mamodo Battles brings Zatch, Kiyo and nineteen other mamodo teams together into one fast paced fighting game. After a quick E3 test of Mamodo battles we found that the game was easy to pick up and play. It didn’t take long before we were able to do combos and summon the gold dragon. Zatch Bell! Mamodo Battles is designed as a party fighting game. Four players can battle if you have a PS2 multitap lying around or if you pick up the Gamecube version. Zatch Bell! Mamodo Battles is also set for a fall release.